Owin #29 — Meeting some new people

Owin settled down onto the deck of the ship with Gwen at his side as the four sailors pushed the wide boat off the beach. Once the boat slipped into the waves, they leaped into the boat, sloshing water over the deck.

“Get on the oars and turn us around,” Arn called in his deep voice. His large presence commanded respect and he had no need to yell. Arn grabbed the tiller while another man moved toward the mast and the sail. The four men who had pushed them off, slid onto benches and pushed oars into the water.

With an easy cadence, Arn barked his command to ‘pull’ and The Needle moved further from shore. Once they were far enough away, those on the port side reversed their direction and the shallow bottomed ship rotated around to face the open sea outside the cove.

The man at the mast, and two of the rowers, grabbed ropes and quickly raised the square sail. The wind snapped the canvas taut and the ship lurched forward, causing Gwen wrapped her arm around Owin as the ship bounced up and down on the waves.

Once they cleared the cove and turned north to follow the coast, Arn called a man over to take the tiller from him. Then the big man easily moved across the open deck and around several crates to come over to them.

“You doing well?”

Owin watch Gwen nod her head, but her arm gripped his waist more tightly. “We’re good,” Owin said.

“Good. If you feel like losing your lunch, do it over the side.”

Owin raised an eyebrow. “Actually, we haven’t eaten anything. Any chance we might be able to get something?”

Arn smiled. “I think we can get you something.” He inclined his head toward the man who had initially gone to the mast. “That is my mate, Tyron.” Moving his focus around the crew, he introduced the others. “The man without any hair is Calvin. Den’ah is the blonde. Warren and Imtor are brothers.”

Owin nodded his head to each in turn. “A pleasure to meet you all.”

“What, you some ass-kisser or a Lord or some sort?” Warren asked.

“These two are good friends of a close friend of mine. I’ve told you not to give them trouble.”

“I wasn’t given’em trouble. The man just sounded like a pompous ass with all the ‘my pleasure’ crap.”

Owin smiled and spoke before Arn could. “I’m more than capable of being cordial, but don’t mistake that for me being kind. I survived the war by being exactly the opposite.”

Warren’s grin grew wider, revealing several missing teeth. “Now that’s a man I can work with.”

Arn laughed as well. “As I said, they are friends of a friend. Anyone that messes with them will deal with me.” Arn lifted his arm. “Tyron, can you get them something to eat? Once they are settled, make for Niam’s cove. We’ll be coming in late, but they should keep the shipment waiting for us.”

Owin watched as Tyron eased his way to chest at the front of the ship.  The man’s grace spoke of years at sea.  However, while Owin gaze stayed on the first mate, his attention never left Imtor.  While he had not ability to sense people’s thoughts like a priest of holy warrior, Owin knew how to read people and Imtor was not a man he trusted.

Continue to next episode.